Dassault Falcon 20

Origins nacelle with its distinctive bypass intake nacelle with a conventional intake During the 1950s and 1960s, the French government, which had taken a significant interest in the re-establishment and growth of its national aviation industries in the aftermath of the Second World War, developed a detailed request for a combined liaison/trainer aircraft, to be equipped with twin-turbofan engines. On 4 May 1963, the Mystère 20 prototype, registered F-WLKB, conducted its maiden flight from Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport, Gironde, France. By this stage, attention in the programme was centered around the commercial opportunities for the type, particularly the large North American market. Further development A number of Falcon 20s that had been originally powered by CF700 engines were later re-engined with Garrett TFE731 engines under AMD-BA Service Bulletin No. 731. To distinguish these re-engined aircraft from those still using the original powerplant, they were redesignated with a "-5" suffix inserted after the model number. Volpar Inc. was involved in a program to re-engine the Falcon 20 with the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW305 engines; however, work on the program was abandoned before a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) STC was awarded. An improved model of the aircraft, designated the Falcon 200, was developed, which featured more advanced jet engines and other major improvements to increase range, capacity, and comfort. The Falcon 200, along with the Falcon 20G and HU-25 models, were powered by a pair of Garrett ATF3 engines. According to the magazine Flying, the Falcon 200 variant was more comparable to the newer Falcon 50 trijet than the original Falcon 20 model. Due to its popularity, Dassault studied and worked upon various variants and extensive derivatives of the Falcon 20. Later-built developments of the type include the smaller Falcon 10; the larger 30-seat Falcon 30 with a larger fuselage cross section, which was built and test flown, but did not proceed to production; and the Falcon 50, an improved three-engined development. The Falcon 20 proved to be so popular that production was not terminated until 1988, when it had been superseded by more advanced developments of the Falcon family. A total of 473 Falcon 20s and 35 Falcon 200s had been constructed by the end of the type's production. During 2013, the FAA modified 14 CFR part 91 rules to prohibit the operation of jets weighing 75,000 pounds or less that were not Stage 3 noise compliant after 31 December 2015. The Falcon 20 was listed explicitly in Federal Register 78 FR 39576. Any examples of the type that had not been modified, either by the installation of Stage 3 noise-compliant engines or have had hush kits installed upon noncompliant engines, were no longer permitted to fly anywhere in the contiguous 48 states after 31 December 2015. However, 14 CFR §91.883 Special flight authorizations for jet airplanes weighing 75,000 pounds or less – lists special flight authorizations that may be granted for operation after 31 December 2015. ==Design==

Falcon 20 The Dassault Falcon 20 is a French business jet, often considered to be an easy to fly and relatively visually appealing aircraft. The favourable flight qualities of the aircraft meant that no need existed to incorporate a stick pusher or stall-barrier systems to achieve its predictable stall behaviour. On the Falcon 200, the cockpit is heavily modernised, being more comparable with the newer Falcon 50 than the original Falcon 20. The adoption of newer engines often had the benefit of improving the Falcon 20's range in addition to increased speed and climb rate; this, in combination with its low-drag fuselage, required more careful speed planning than the majority of business jets. On some models, protection against engine conditions such as instances of over-speed and over-heating is provided by electronic flight computers, as is the aircraft's 'throttle-lock' power management system to maintain safe levels of engine power throughout climbs without any crew commands. As conventional thrust reversers are not compatible with the location of the engines, an alternative configuration in the form of rotatable doors fixed to the outer cowling of the engine partially cover both the engine fan and core exhaust, deflecting thrust upwards and forwards. The Falcon 20 is furnished with a highly swept wing; it is equipped with leading-edge slats to improve its slow speed performance and decrease the stalling speed. Supplemental Type Certificate SA5858SW, issued by the American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and held by Falcon Jet Corporation allows for the installation of underwing pylons upon the Fan Jet Falcon, Fan Jet Falcon Series D and Fan Jet Falcon Series E. This modification has been commonly used upon those Falcon 20s which have been operated as special mission aircraft, which would often make use of underwing stores. Substantial numbers of Falcon 20s were converted into cargo-carrying configurations; a hydraulically-operated cargo door served to simplify loading-unloading operations. According to Flying Magazine, upon its launch, the Falcon 200 model had the largest cabin of any mid-size business jet. Additionally, the rear fuselage of the Falcon 200 was re-designed to accommodate a 28-cubic foot baggage compartment within the tailcone, which supplements the standard aft cabin baggage compartment. ==Operational history==

Falcon 20 N8FE (cn199) with custom 6' wide cargo door on display at the Smithsonian Commercial, corporate, and private use While sales in the North American market was initially strong, sales were negatively impacted by the Recession of 1969–70, which led to excess unsold Falcon 20 aircraft temporarily building up while Pan American Business Jets Division sought sales of the type. Despite difficulties securing the necessary finances, the fledgling company was able to acquire several Falcon 20s and convert them for cargo operations. Originally, Federal Express intended for its Falcon 20s to be delivered post-conversion, as a consequence of funding issues, the aircraft were acquired in handfuls and independently converted from their initial passenger-carrying configuration to support their use for cargo operations. In September 1972, Federal Express established an in-house training school, focused on the preparation of ex-military pilots for commercial operations using the Falcon. In April 1973, Federal Express commenced its air express package delivery service using Falcon 20s out of its distribution centre in Memphis, Tennessee. By its third year of operation, the airline had established a nationwide network using the Falcon 20 as its principal aircraft and had become profitable; as a consequence of rapidly increasing demands, it was recognised around this point that the introduction of larger cargo aircraft to supplement the type would soon be necessary in order to expand. At the height of its use of the type, Federal Express operated a fleet of 33 Falcon 20s. The type was eventually withdrawn following is gradual replacement by substantially larger aircraft, the first of these being the Boeing 727-100. The Falcon 20 which had carried the first Federal Express air express package has since been placed on static display at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport. U.S. Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) operated a model of the Falcon 20, designated as the HU-25 Guardian. The Guardian was operated as a high-speed spotter aircraft to locate shipwreck survivors and direct slower-moving aircraft and rescue vessels, and to interdict aerial and shipborne drug trafficking. In 1982, the first HU-25 was delivered to the USCG; Initial models of the HU-25 were delivered to the HU-25A standard; a number were later modified to become HU-25Bs, which were equipped with sensors capable of detecting oil spills and other environmental pollutants. Aerial testbeds In 1988 the United States Coast Guard tested a Falcon 20C (tail-number N200GT) using Garrett TFE1042 afterburners. This required adding a titanium heat shield to the tail due to the engine mount position. In 1990, the United States Air Force acquired N20NY (cn 61), a Falcon 20C, for use as a testbed at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. In 2006, the USAF also acquired Coast Guard HU-25A 2125, registered as N448TB (cn 439), for use at Lincoln Laboratory. Sometime in the mid to late 2000s, N20NY was retired and donated to a local community college, with N448TB also being retired and donated to the same school in June, 2022. In 2011, NASA acquired a former Coast Guard HU-25C for use in Operation IceBridge. The aircraft, based at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, is equipped with a scanning laser altimeter to collect data on Arctic surface topography. During November 2012, a Falcon 20 became the first civil jet in the world to fly on 100 per cent biofuel when it performed a test flight for Canada's National Research Council. ==Variants==

near Los Angeles in September 1986. Note deleted cabin windows Falcon 20E, August 2010 ;Mystère/Falcon 20 :Prototype, one built. F-WLKB, initially powered by two Pratt & Whitney JT12A-8 turbojet engines. Now stored at Musée Air et Espace Aéroport Paris – Le Bourget. ;Mystère/Falcon 20C :Initial production version, with lengthened fuselage compared to first prototype and with 10–12 seats. Powered by CF700-2B engines. ;Falcon 20CC (s/n 073) :Modified Falcon 20C, with modifications for unpaved runway operations (larger wheels, low-pressure tyres, reinforced belly skin, and deleted main gear doors). ;Mystère/Falcon 20D :Higher thrust engines (General Electric CF700-2D) and lower fuel consumption and more fuel capacity. ;Mystère/Falcon 20E :Higher thrust engines (General Electric CF700-2D-2), higher zero fuel weight. ; :Full leading-edge droop flaps and more fuel capacity. ;Falcon 20FH :This was the original designation of the Falcon 200 prototype. ;Falcon 20G :Maritime patrol and surveillance version, equipped with two Garrett AiResearch ATF3-6-2C turbofan engines. ;Falcon 20H :This was the original designation of the Falcon 200. ;Falcon ST :This designation was given to two Falcon 20s used by the French Air Force as systems training aircraft. The aircraft were equipped with the combat radar and navigation systems of the Dassault Mirage IIIE. ;HU-25A Guardian :United States Coast Guard version of the Falcon 20G. 41 built. Equipped with two Garrett AiResearch Garrett ATF3-6-2C turbofan engines. ;HU-25B Guardian :Pollution control version for the US Coast Guard equipped with side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) under fuselage. Seven converted from HU-25As. ;HU-25C Guardian :Drug interdiction version for the US Coast Guard, equipped with a Westinghouse APG-66 search radar and WF-360 Forward looking infrared turret. Nine HU-25As converted. ;HU-25C+ Guardian :Upgrade of HU-25C, with improved AN/APG-66(V)2 radar and new FLIR turret. All nine HU-25Cs converted. ;HU-25D Guardian :Upgraded HU-25A, with AN/APS-143B(V)3 Inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) and same FLIR as HU-25C+. 15 upgraded. ;Guardian 2 :Maritime patrol and surveillance version of the Falcon 200. Never put into production. ;CC-117 :Canadian military designation of Falcon 20C from 1970. ; :The Falcon 20 was marketed in North America under this name. ;Falcon Cargo Jet (Falcon 20DC) :Conversion of Falcon 20 to light cargo aircraft. 33 purchased/converted by FedEx Express for overnight courier service. ;Falcon 20C-5, 20D-5, 20E-5, 20F-5 :Falcon 20 aircraft equipped with Garrett TFE731-5AR-2C or TFE731-5BR-2C engines. Also includes adaptation of bleed air, anti-ice, hydraulic, fuel, electrical and engine control systems and installation of ATTCS (automatic takeoff thrust control system). ; Falcon 30 : Enlarged, 30-passenger commuter airliner derivative of Falcon 20, powered by two Lycoming ALF 502D turbofans. One prototype built, first flying on 11 May 1973. No further production of Falcon 30 or proposed 40-passenger, shorter-range Mystére 40-100. ==Operators==

Falcon 20G in 2009 Falcon 20 Falcon 20D in 1981 Falcon 20 in 2009 Falcon DA-20 EW, ECM, ESM aircraft Current civilian operators ; • USA Jet Airlines • Alliance Air Charter • Kalitta Charters • Ameristar Jet Charter • IFL Group Inc. • Sierra West Airlines ; • Private ; • Draken Europe (formerly FR Aviation/Cobham Limited) ; • Aerovision • Service des avions français instrumentés pour la recherche en environnement ; • German Aerospace Center ; • Guardian Air ; • FalconAir ; • Air Nunavut • National Research Council Former civilian operators ; • Imani Aviation (defunct charter company) ; • Pan Am • Grand Aire Express • Phoenix Air • Fedex Express • Ameriflight/California Air Charter Current military operators ; • Djibouti Air Force ; • Egyptian Air Force ; • French Navy ; • Imperial Iranian Air Force, later Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force as well as Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation • Imperial Iranian Navy, later Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (Navy Aviation) • Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps ; • Japan Coast Guard ; • Pakistan Air Force – 3 in service, including 2 DA-20s in EW, ECM, ESM roles ; • Spanish Air and Space Force ; • Sudanese Air Force ; • Syrian Air Force ; • Tunisian Air Force ; • Venezuelan Air Force Former military operators ; ; ; • Royal Australian Air Force – Three in service from 1967 to 1989. • No. 34 Squadron RAAF ; • Benin Air Force ; • Belgian Air Component – 2 Falcon 20E-5 operated from 1973 as VIP aircraft. Retired 22 December 2016. ; • Royal Canadian Air Force • Canadian Forces • 412 Transport Squadron and No. 414 Squadron RCAF 1970–1989 as CC-117 ; ; • Chilean Navy ; • French Air Force ; • Guinea-Bissau Air Force ; ; • Royal Jordanian Air Force • Jordanian Royal Flight ; • Lebanese Air Force ; • Libyan Air Force (Mirage Weapons Trainer) ; • Royal Moroccan Air Force ; • Royal Norwegian Air Force • 717 Squadron - the remaining two planes 041 Hugin and 053 Munin were retired in September 2022, following a farewell flight over large parts of Southern Norway. Their duties will be taken over by the new F-35A and P-8 Poseidon planes being delivered to the RNoAF ; • Nicaraguan Air Force ; • Oman Royal Flight ; • Panamanian Public Forces ; • Peruvian Air Force ; • Portuguese Air Force ; • South African Air Force ; • United States Coast Guard ==Specifications (Falcon 20F)==

• The Mystère 20 prototype was also featured in the 1966 comedy How to Steal a Million, starring Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole. ==See also==